For Project #3, our group would like to do a three part piece, with the three elements hanging from a collapsible frame. The three pieces will each have a light inside and will reflect the light and color produced by the piece in different ways. To create this project sustainably, we plan to use materials we all have leftover from previous works this semester, as well as using recycled plastics and wood from the making center.
Research:
History of the chandelier –
Throughout the centuries, the chandelier has gained a reputation as probably the most popular decorative object. Since its beginnings, it was a symbol of triumph and social standing. The name itself was a synonym for luxury, power, and class.
The word ‘chandelier’ originates from the French word ‘chandelle’ meaning candle. The earliest chandeliers were of simple design: two wooden beams forming a cross, with spikes at the end to retain candles made of animal fat.
It was the expense of good quality candles made chandeliers exclusive luxury items from their conception. They were first used in Europe at the end of the 9th century by the Church and soon afterwards in castles and royal palaces.
The designs and materials used developed as production techniques improved with time. By the 15th century, complex gold gilded chandeliers had become an essential element in residences of the wealthy nobility.
Chandeliers first appeared in homes of the working-classes during the 16th and 17th century. While the common households used wood, wrought iron, or tin to fashion their chandeliers, even more expensive and elaborate chandeliers made from rock crystal – a transparent form of quartz – were created during this period that only few could afford. Also, the first crystal chandelier appeared, hung from a gilt silver metal structure.
In the 18th century, the evolution of the chandelier continued. Some of the most exclusive were the ones made from Venetian Murano glass. Developments in glass manufacturing meant that lead crystal was able to be produced relatively cheaply, leading to the expansion in populatity of the crystal chandelier.
What is a chandelier?
Chandelier: A chandelier is a branched ornamental light fixture designed to be mounted on ceilings or walls.Chandeliers are often ornate, and normally use incandescent light bulbs, though some modern designs also use fluorescent lamps and recently LEDs.
The Historical Evolution of Lighting
The advent of reliable, energy efficient lighting in the home and in our places of business has and continues to play a major part in the modern way of life. Along with running water’s impact on general health, and perhaps the internet’s impact on interpersonal communication, it’s hard to imagine a more impactful technology than lighting. As you might imagine, lighting has come a long way to get to where it is today.
Gas lamps: Gas lighting was developed in England in 1790 and introduced to the United States shortly thereafter by William Murdoch. Pelham Street in Newport, Rhode Island was the first section of road in America to introduce Murdoch’s gas lights (they were installed in 1792). Only a few decades later gas fuel was being used for street lighting in major eastern cities of the United States like Philadelphia and Baltimore. You can read the full history of street lighting in the USA here. Different types of gas have been used over the years to include methane, acetylene, butane, propane, hydrogen, and natural gas. The growth of gas lamps and the infrastructure to support them in cities and suburbs mirrored the advancements of the era in hydrocarbon fuel production (coal and petroleum production and distillation).
Electric lamps: The first electric light was created by Englishman Humphry Davey. According to the US Department of Energy Davy “demonstrated the first incandescent light to the Royal Institute in Great Britain, using a bank of batteries and two charcoal rods.” His invention was what we commonly refer to as an arc light (modern day versions of which are still being used today).
The 20th century was the century of high intensity discharge (HID) lamps. Amongst the most popular and commercially successful types of HID lamps are fluorescent, mercury-vapor, high pressure sodium, and metal-halide. All of these lamps are the same type of technology in that they operate by sending an electrical current between two metal electrodes and through a glass tube filled with inert gas resulting in the emission of visible light.
Modern lighting has continued to improve across the spectrum (incandescent, fluorescent, metal halide, LED etc.). Thus far the most promising lights for the 21st century appear to be LEDs. Modern LEDs have a useful lifespan 2-4 times that of their average competitor while producing high quality light much more efficiently as well. For more information on LEDs you can read here.
In the 19th century, people started using gas as their primary form of artificial light, which encouraged the inventors to create the gasoliers. Many chandeliers were converted to burn gas instead of candles, greatly reducing the number of house fires since the flame was now encased in glass. Also, there was no longer need to replace the candles. With the invention of electricity, chandeliers were once more updated and electric chandeliers became standard.
SEAL:-
The harp seal (Pagophilus groenlandicus) is a semi aquatic marine mammal that lives throughout the northern Atlantic and Arctic Oceans. They can grow up to 400 pounds and reach 5 to 6 ½ feet in length. Harp seals are carnivores, eating mostly crustaceans and fish, and spend little time on land (National Geographic, n.d.). The harp seal or saddleback seal, originally in the genus Phoca with a number of other species, it was reclassified into the monotypic genus Pagophilusand 1844.
EFFECTS OF GLOBAL WARMING ON THE SEAL:-
Since the Arctic sea ice is decreasing so drastically within the next 50 years, and is predicted to be ice-free by 2050, the harp seal population will be greatly affected. Research showed that sea ice is important to harp seal babies who are born and live on the ice for the first six weeks of their life, because they are not able to swim and hunt on their own. Due to this decline of ice the seals will have less area and weaker ice to give birth upon, nurse, and for the babies to grow.
Prior to researching, harp seal population was anticipated to diminish due to habitat loss from warming ocean temperatures. It will start by discussing the sea ice projections for the next 50 years and how much it is predicted to decrease. A potential solution to the prominent issue of global warming leading to the yearly decrease of Arctic sea ice and its consequential effects on the habitat of harp seals is to implement artificial nesting structures so more seals can survive the rapid change of their habitat. Artificial nesting structures have been used for centuries, first appearing in the 19th century in the form of a nest box.By placing artificial platforms into the Arctic for harp seals, we could create habitat for the seals, potentially increasing the overall survival rate. Because pups do not have a sufficient amount of blubber to keep them warm in the water and because pups cannot swim for the first six weeks of their life, it is crucial for harp seals to have thick, solid ice to nurse and wean on (Sargent, 1991).
SKETCHES & RAPID 3D MOCKUPS
FINAL PIECE
PROCESS & REFLECTION
After a lot of confusion (which is pretty fine) and discussion our group decided to take up the issue of global warming and its affects on the North Pole animals. We made animals out of wire and then used a glue gun to make it look as melting. I chose a seal. I further made a cloud using wire and cotton. We are using T light candle to represent heat. as well as it will make the glue melt which looks real.
Working in a group was not a new thing as I had worked in groups in other classes too. But the type of assignment made it a bit difficult as a group project. Any how we were able to do it well in time. I learnt a lot through this assignment. This was not the kind of assignment for which I could say I enjoyed it all I can say is that I learnt a lot.
Citation:-
WIKIPEDIA
